If you’re tired of drowning in clutter but don’t have the time for a long decluttering session, don’t despair! I’m here to tell you that, YES, it is absolutely possible to declutter your entire home in just 30 minutes a day.
I know because I’ve done it in my home multiple times, and I’m going to share the exact method I use so that you can follow along, too.
By far, the number one most popular post on my website is how to declutter your entire home in one weekend. Because what is more appealing than just digging in and getting it over with?
Bam, one weekend, all your decluttering is done! Sounds amazing, right?

But it can be hard to find an entire weekend to dedicate to decluttering, especially if you’re on a tight schedule or dealing with young kids, etc.
So while my favorite way to declutter is typically to just go in and get the job done, I’ve recently had to change my decluttering routine.
Now that I have a toddler in tow, it’s incredibly hard to find a large chunk of time to dedicate to decluttering. Not to mention, we also have lots of toys to declutter!
So I’ve adapted to decluttering one small area a day. That is pretty much how I get anything done these days.
True, it takes longer than if you’d done it all in one weekend. But that’s perfectly fine! Progress is progress, no matter how big or small.
The most important thing is that you show up every day and make an effort. And before you know it, you’ll have decluttered your entire home in just 30 minutes a day.
Oh, and if you really want to supercharge your decluttering efforts, don’t forget to follow these 8 essential habits for a clutter-free home. These easy tips are really crucial to making sure your home stays decluttered!
So are you ready to get started decluttering? Read through the steps below and download your free decluttering planner to take control of your clutter today!
How to Declutter Your Entire Home in 30 Minutes a Day
1. Create your decluttering schedule.
One of the best ways to stay on track with your decluttering progress is to create a decluttering schedule. It doesn’t have to be incredibly elaborate or complicated. But this will help guide you so you know exactly what you’re decluttering and when.
To create your schedule, first make a list of all the rooms in your home, and then estimate how much time it will take to go through each one. You can grab my free decluttering planner below, and it will walk you through the whole process.
Unless the room is really cluttered, I recommend budgeting no more than 2 hours per room. When you limit the amount of time you’ll spend in each area, it forces you to get down to business and not get sidetracked.

2. Block off time for decluttering each day on your calendar.
Once you’ve created your schedule, it’s time to add it to your calendar. If you’re using your own calendar, simply block off 30 minutes each day for decluttering.
Or if you’d prefer, you can use my special (and FREE) decluttering planner! There is space each day for you to keep track of your decluttering priorities and how much time you’ll be spending decluttering.
If you have more (or less) than 30 minutes to devote to decluttering, feel free to customize the schedule to your needs. Don’t want to declutter on the weekends? Leave those days free. That’s the beauty of creating your own decluttering schedule!
Either way, I highly recommend adding it to a calendar of some sort so you have the reminder each day of what you’re supposed to be doing. This will help make it a priority instead of something that gets pushed to the back burner and then forgotten.
HELPFUL HINT: Want to declutter your home in record time? These 10 brilliant decluttering tips will show you how!
3. Gather your supplies.
To ensure your decluttering is successful, make sure you have some large trash bags and empty boxes nearby to fill up with things you’re getting rid of.
I also recommend a timer of some sort. This can be a kitchen timer or even an app on your phone.
You’ll also want some sticky notes and markers nearby so you can label what’s inside those bags and boxes. And don’t forget to bring your favorite upbeat tunes for some extra motivation.
4. Start decluttering!
When it’s time to begin decluttering, head to the room you’ll be decluttering first. Take your supplies, and set the timer for the allotted time (30 minutes, or however much time you blocked off that day for decluttering). Then start decluttering!
Go through all the things in that area and decide if each one is something you should keep or get rid of. Try not to get side tracked or sucked into other things. As long as the timer is running, you should be decluttering.
Here are some questions to help you decide what to keep and get rid of:
- Will I actually use this item in the near future?
- Does this item hold significant value to me, or have I just been holding onto it for no reason?
- Is this item in usable condition, or is it broken and worn beyond repair?
- Do I have the right amount of this item, or are there duplicates and more than I’ll ever use?

5. Sort it out.
As you’re decluttering, put everything you’re getting rid of into separate piles: TOSS, RECYCLE, DONATE, and SELL. Don’t waste time debating about it, just make a decision and move on.
Anything in good condition can probably be donated or sold. If it’s broken, worn out, or in poor condition, it should probably be tossed or recycled.
6. Get rid of it.
You really want to get the stuff you’re decluttering out of your house ASAP. Otherwise things tend to migrate back into the house, undoing all your hard work.
You can probably get rid of the things you’re tossing or recycling the same day. You might want to keep a box of things you’re donating in your car, and once a week make a trip to a donation place.
Try to get the things you’re selling listed and sold as soon as you can. If you’re having trouble selling it, it’s probably not worth your time and you’re better off donating it.
While you’re waiting to sell or donate items, keep them in an out-of-the way spot where people won’t easily come across them and take things back out.
If you’d like to keep track of where you’ll be donating and selling items, there’s space in the free decluttering planner to plan it out.
Break It Down
Since you’ll be spending roughly 30 minutes a day decluttering, you’ll want to break each room up into sections to tackle each day.
For example, if you’ve estimated it will take 2 hours to declutter your kitchen and you’re decluttering for 30 minutes each day, that means you’ll be focusing on your kitchen for about 4 days. Each day you should declutter roughly 25% of your kitchen.
However you’d prefer to break this up is up to you. The first day you might focus on decluttering the kitchen counter tops and drawers, the second day the upper cabinets, the third day the lower cabinets, and the last day the refrigerator and pantry.
Of course, there will be times when a room takes longer than you originally planned. But in general, try to stick with your master list to ensure you’re continuing to make progress with your decluttering.
And there you have it! I can tell you from personal experience that it is totally possible to declutter your entire home, even when you have limited time.
You can use this method to declutter your home even if you only have 10 minutes a day. However long you have each day to dedicate to decluttering, make it count, and you’ll start seeing progress!
And let me tell you, the benefits of decluttering your home are SO worth it! You’d be amazed how much easier it is to run a home when there’s so much less stuff weighing you (and your family) down.
Thank you, Celeste. About to begin the HUGE but DO-ABLE task. Was reading so I could get ready… This really “hit home” (the suppressed reality/longing for far too long!):
=> “But the truth of the matter is, our homes aren’t meant to be storage spaces–they’re meant to be living spaces!”
THANK YOU!
I love this site and all the advice! I started on my laundry room/ which also serves as office space, this past Saturday. I made great progress! Not completely finished by getting close!
Hi Celeste. Thank you for this help. Just the fact of knowing that you enjoy decluttering helps get me to a new place.
I am so guilty of using our house for storage. I don’t have any trash or recycling, thankfully, but I have too much of many categories of items. Doubles and triples even.
So everything in my house is stacked. My cupboards, pantry, upper closet shelves, coat closet, tops of dressers, top of refrigerator and freezer is stacked.
I have been sorting slowly this year and not allowing anything new to come in unless it is consumable.
Here is where the change comes in and why I need help. Before the pandemic my son and his young family were going to move from a rental to their first purchased home at the end of April. Now his landlord wants to give the rented house to his brother who is out of work. He is begging my son to be out by April 6. The new house and loan my son had secured is “on hold” in these strange times.
So I think I am facing I have one week to clear out “stuff” to make room here for my son and his wife and two toddlers. I know a cleanie would say, “Whats the problem?”, put petal to the metal and have my house done and company ready in about three full days.
But I am not a cleanie, I do not have those skills, please pray for me to struggle though and get this done in 5 days. Thank YOU!